X

EMERGENCY

In an emergency, always call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Ambulances are the safest way to be assessed, treated and transported to the right hospital for the care you need.

Triple zero (000) is a free call from any phone, mobile or phone box.

For less severe but still urgent situations, go to an Emergency Department.

There are 12 public hospital Emergency Departments in Northern NSW Local Health District and they are all available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Emergency departments are located at:

COVID-19 update: 9 December
Published: 09 Dec 2021

11 new cases of COVID-19 were reported for Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) in the 24 hours to 8pm 8 December.

Of these cases, eight are located in the Byron Local Government Area (LGA), one in the Ballina LGA, one in Lismore LGA, and one in Tweed LGA. Nine of the 11 cases are linked to existing cases, and two are under investigation.

One case of local transmission has been identified in association with the below venue of concern:

Site
Address
Date and Time

Woody’s Surf Shack Night Club
The Plaza, 90-96 Johnson Street, Byron Bay
Tuesday 30 November,

Wednesday 1 December,

Thursday 2 December,

Friday 3 December

8.00pm – 3.30am each day

 

We are reminding anyone who was at this venue on the dates and times listed to please come forward for testing immediately.

If you attended this venue and are not fully vaccinated, you will be a close contact, and must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days. You will need to have a repeat COVID-19 test on day 12 after your last visit to the venue.

If you attended this venue and are fully vaccinated, you will be a casual contact, and must get tested immediately and isolate while awaiting a negative test result. Get tested again on day 6 after your last visit to the venue. If you feel well, you do not need to self-isolate while waiting for this test result.

We urge anyone across our District who develops symptoms such as a runny nose, a scratchy or sore throat, or is generally feeling unwell, to get tested and isolate immediately, even if you are fully vaccinated.

Thank you to everyone who has come forward for testing in recent days, particularly in the Byron Bay region. Alongside vaccination, one of the best things we can do to help protect both locals and tourists is to get tested quickly.

Across NSW, the number of COVID-19 cases reported has increased in recent days. Contact tracing taking place around the state has shown that the virus has spread among vaccinated people at a range of indoor settings, where people are socialising, including pubs, nightclubs and parties. This is also occurring in Northern NSW.

The vaccine is effective at protecting against severe disease, but although the risk of transmission is reduced, spread can still occur among fully vaccinated people.

It is very important that people planning to attend venues or functions protect each other by using QR codes, physical distancing and wearing masks as much as possible, and practising hand hygiene.

If you are feeling unwell, please do not attend social gatherings – stay home and get tested.  Do not wait until symptoms get worse, we encourage you to get tested at the first sign of any illness.

There are more than 450 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find your nearest clinic on the NSW Government website or contact your GP.

If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, we encourage you to attend one of the walk-in or booked vaccination clinics which are operating throughout Northern NSW. You can find your closest vaccination clinic at the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder.

 

Advice for international travellers

New rules for returning travellers regarding the Omicron B.1.1.529 variant of concern are now in place. In line with Commonwealth measures, all travellers arriving in NSW who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days, irrespective of their vaccination status.

All fully vaccinated travellers who have been in any other overseas country during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must travel directly to their place of residence or accommodation and isolate for 72 hours. They will only be able to exit isolation at the end of the 72 hour period if they have received a negative result. These people must also complete a PCR test on day six after arrival.

Anyone who has already arrived in NSW who has been in any of the eight African countries within the previous 14 days must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, and call NSW Health on 1800 943 553.